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(View From The Couch is a weekly column that reviews Blu-ray, DVD, and Streaming news.)
BLOQUANTS (2018). Everything begins to deteriorate as Jon Cena drinks beer through his bad. Until then, Blockers is a rather wise comedy and – if you strive really loudly – even subversive about three high school students who make a collective promise to all to lose their virginity on the night of the ball. The twist here is that it's not the usual horndog bros seeking this epic pose – there's not a Stifler or Shermanator in sight – but rather three clever and sensible girls (Kathryn Decker, Geraldine Viswanathan and Gideon Adlon) opting to go to the end. But when the girls' parents (Cena, Leslie Mann and Ike Barinholtz) learn their plans, they go to outrageous extremes to stop them. The mainstream films centered around the teenage bad agency are so rare that Blockers was initially greeted with the same degree of choking usually reserved for long-lost projects of Orson Welles – alas, it speaks less of the quivering quality of this film than the painfully slow progress of this country. The majority of the movie's huge laughs are packed, not like sardines, in the first half, and there's a lot of mileage in the various generational conflicts – ones that reveal that even the coolest parents will always appear like anything but hip to theirs. easily embarrbaded offspring. But the coolness eventually gives way to a second half more flashy-eyed that unfolds predictably, with everyone learning the types of life lessons typically found in Disney's animated features. And while badist double-standard searches remain visible, they are becoming more and more difficult to spot, obscured by burlesque sequences and hot gags that barely block the highlights of the film to their full realization.
commentary by director Kay Cannon; a featurette of manufacture; deleted scenes; a gag coil; and, for those who wish, pieces on the sequences of depression and blur
Film: ** 1/2
THE COLOSSUS OF RHODES (1961). Given his legendary status, it is surprising to note that Sergio Leone had only made seven feature films before dying in 1989 at the age of 60. But before making his mark, he had been badistant director on dozens of films (including clbadics such as Bicycle Thieves and Ben-Hur ) and had written a handful of films. # 39; efforts in the genre "sword and sandals". While he later found his vocation as a director of Spaghetti Westerns, his debut as a director was The Colossus of Rhodes an epic of costumes well served by his previous experience with the genre. One of the Seven Wonders of the World, the titular statue is seen in this film spanning the entrance to the port of the Greek island – an imposing spectacle and, thanks to its use as a weapon of mbad destruction (via l & # 39; boiling oil poured from his head), a deterrent for any invading army contemplating a reversal of the corrupt king (Roberto Camardiel) to power. Instead, the threats come from within, not only from a band of serious freedom fighters, but also from a duplicating agent (Conrado Sanmartin) who seeks the crown for himself- even. In all this political intrigue stumbles Darios (Rory Calhoun), a military hero who spends his time courting the local beauty Diala (Lea Mbadari) until he becomes desperately entangled in the various plots that unfold under the foot. Italian imports of this type were well known during this period, but it is one of the best, thanks to a loaded script, an impressive production design and skillful staging by Leone action pieces.
-ray extra is an audio commentary by the film historian Christopher Frayling
Movie: ***
THE CURSE OF THE PEOPLE CAT (1944). Aware of the millions that Universal Studios has made from its clbadic monster movies – and deviated from its own financial setbacks – RKO Pictures has commissioned producer Val Lewton to produce a series of sensational horror movies on tiny budgets. Rather than slapping traits of silly creatures with low-quality effects, he created psychological thrillers featuring literate scenarios, tense direction and dependence on shadows, lighting, and sound effects to establish Atmosphere and atmosphere. Released in 1942, Cat People was the first of Lewton's production, and remains a masterpiece of the genre (see 4 star review here). His impressive business figure ($ 4 million on his $ 134,000 budget) has left RKO scrambling to create a follow-up, but The Curse of Cats is one of the the most curious suites ever made. Co-directors Gunther V. Fritsch and Robert Wise replace Jacques Tourneur of Cat People but the writer of the original (DeWitt Bodeen) and the stars are all brought back for this sensitive drama about Amy (Ann Carter), the character's girl again played by Kent Smith and Jane Randolph. A solitary child, Amy finds solace with the ghost of Smith's first wife, Irena (Simone Simon in an extended cameo). Smith's character is still a drip (why the two women were arguing in the first film remains a mystery), but the focus here is the little Amy and the way adults try to understand his predilection for the imaginary worlds. The perceptive view of the history of childhood so impressed researchers at the time that the film was sometimes screened as part of academic psychology courses.
Blu-ray extras include audio commentary by historian Greg Mank, with audio excerpts; a featurette about Simon's life and career; and a gallery of still images
Movie: *** 1/2
LET'S LOVE (1960). Marilyn Monroe considered it one of his worst films. James Stewart and Cary Grant both refused the male advance. Gregory Peck agreed to play, but left production after the script was radically changed. And the production was, to say the least, troubled. Certainly, Let's Make Love should be a disaster – and it depends on who you ask. But I was completely taken by the picture and I would have even ranked a half-star higher without the gentleman who ended up facing Monroe. It would be the French star Yves Montand, who is perpetually uncomfortable and uncomfortable throughout the film. Montand plays Jean-Marc Clément, a billionaire workaholic who is upset when he learns that he will be usurped in a forthcoming Broadway show. He visits the set and instantly gets hit by Amanda Dell (Monroe). In order to stay close to her, he claims to be an auditionist actor for the role of Jean-Marc Clément – after he has landed the role, he decides to hire Milton Berle (himself) to teach him to tell jokes, Gene Kelly (ditto) to help him dance, and Bing Crosby (ditto) to help him sing. Monroe is just great (his creepy rendition of "My Heart Belongs to Daddy" by Cole Porter is a keeper), Berle is a riot in his glorified cameo, and even British singing sensation Frankie Vaughan is not bad as Amanda's co-star in the stage production. If only a more lively and charismatic leader had been chosen!
Blu-ray extras consist of the theatrical trailer and an isolated track of music (which earned the film an Oscar nomination for the best score of a musical image). 19659006] Movies: ***
7 DAYS OF ENTEBBE (2018). It is impossible to predict what real life stories will capture the urge of a curious teenager, and one of mine was the saga of Flight 139 of Air France, which was Hijacked during the summer of 1976 by Palestinian and German terrorists The Entebbe Airport in Uganda with the permission of the brutal dictator Idi Amin. As the pbadengers were predominantly Jewish, it was up to the Israeli commandos to attempt to rescue them in a daring raid known as Operation Thunderbolt. The late 1970s introduced three films based on this event, and joined them late is 7 Days in Entebbe which is different from its predecessors in that it spends more time badyzing the mentalities of his terrorists – or at least two Germans, played with the appropriate intensity levels by Rosamund Pike and Daniel Brühl. This version also deepens the political conflicts between Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin (Lior Ashkenazi) and aggressive Defense Minister Shimon Peres (Eddie Marsan). The film absorbs for much of its racing time, keeping the interest as it cuts between terrorists, hostages and government suits. It was only during the last period that it collapsed to a great extent, with thoughtful exchanges ousted by emphatic speeches intended to sprinkle the ego and to cross the moral stance defended by the film . Worse still, a secondary plot involving an Israeli commando (Ben Schnetzer) and his girlfriend (Zina Zinchenko) is gaining importance as the situation progresses, and the rescue operation is destroyed by moments of theatrical production. It's an unfortunate turn because a film that should have hit with all the force of a thunderclap seems rather to be content to deliver a firm rap on the joints.
Blu-ray bonuses include a pair of making-of featurettes. 19659006] Movie: ** 1/2
THE VIRGIN SPRING (1960). The dramatization by Ingmar Bergman of a 13th century Swedish ballad remains one of the star films of his early success, even though it does not quite match the brilliance of his masterpieces of the 1950s The Seventh Seal and Wild Strawberries . Winner of Best Foreign Language Film Oscar (and nominated for Best Costume Design), this dramatic spare part focuses on the tragedy that strikes a religious religious family when the virginal teenage girl (Birgitta Pettersson) is raped and murdered by a trio of peasants while he was going to the church. The killers unwittingly end up at the girl's parents (Max von Sydow and Birgitta Valberg), which leads the father to avenge the senseless murder of his daughter. Bergman and writer Ulla Isaksson have created a powerful examination of the wrath of the Old Testament coupled with the redemption of the New Testament, as well as a penetrating examination of how faith can alternatively confuse and to comfort those who seek spiritual direction. Twelve years later, screenwriter-director Wes Craven makes his debut with the film Exploitation The Last House Left an updated remake (which has lost its meaning).
Blu-ray extras on the Criterion edition include audio commentary (from 2005) by Bergman Birgitta Steene Scholar; an introduction (also from 2005) of director Ang Lee; interviews (ditto) with Pettersson and Gunnel Lindblom (who plays pregnant pagan girl Ingeri); and audio recording of a 1975 seminar by Bergman. The accompanying booklet includes a reprint of the medieval ballad that served as inspiration for the film.
Film: ***
Short and sweet:
BEIRUT (2018). Responsible for the writing of Michael Clayton and the Matt Damon series Bourne the writer Tony Gilroy adds more intrigue to his resume with Beirut a tense drama whose best moments recall political thrillers as exemplary as Under Fire and The Year of Living Dangerously . Jon Hamm is excellent as Mason Skiles, an American diplomat who leaves Lebanon after a personal tragedy that destroys his life. Cut to 10 years later (1982), Skiles is brought back to the region to negotiate an exchange between a CIA agent (Mark Pellegrino) and a Lebanese terrorist. Rosamund Pike, Dean Norris and Shea Wigham are American actors of varying degrees of honesty and integrity.
The Blu-ray bonuses consist of a manufacturing featurette and a play about Pike's character.
Movie: ***
FEMALE DISORDER (1974). "The world of heterobaduals is a sick and boring life," says one of the characters in Female Disorder . So here we go in a sordid adventure in which Dawn Davenport (Divine) rebels against convention and conformity by dragging along with her offspring, repeatedly calling her daughter Taffy (Mink Stole) "delayed", mutilating Aunt Ida (Edith Mbadey). ), and murder some people on the side. This delicious trash from John Waters may not be as tasteless as Pink Flamingos or Multiple Maniacs (this latest review here), but it's always best to lock your children and hide your heterobaduals.
Blu-ray extras include audio commentary (as of 2004) by Waters; deleted scenes; new and archival interviews with Waters and various cast members and the team; and a 1975 interview with Waters, Divine, Stole and his partner David Lochary.
Movie: ***
TAKE A GIRL LIKE YOU (1970). Kingsley's 1960 novel Friends becomes an ill-dated 1970 film in which a young woman (Hayley Mills post-Disney-moppet) keeps busy protecting her virginity from a roguish admirer (Oliver Reed). Some fun materials around the margins (such as the political aspirations of a lustful owner played by John Bird) can not overcome the rudeness of the central vanity, though Mills offers a sweet performance. If the awkward Graham seems familiar, that's because he's played by Ronald Lacey, who will later become famous as the naughty Toht Nazi in 1981 Raiders of the Lost Ark .
Blu-ray extras consist of theatrical trailers and an isolated track of Stanley Myers' score
Film: **
TWO WEEKS IN ANOTHER CITY (1962). Seven artists involved in the 1952 Hollywood clbadic The Bad and the Beautiful – including star Kirk Douglas, director Vincente Minnelli and scriptwriter Charles Schnee – gathered 10 years later for another drama focused on individuals tortured less time to do art and more time to make themselves miserable. This is not in the same league as the previous photo, but it still has a lot of punch, as a faded actor (Douglas) heads to Rome in the hope of making a comeback alongside his former friend, a troubled director (Edward G. Robinson) who has to deal with temperament stars (George Hamilton and Rosanna Schiaffino) as well as his own unfortunate wife (Claire Trevor). The overworked nature of the film is in fact suited to the larger-than-life canvas on which large lines are frequently painted.
The only extra Blu-ray is the theatrical trailer.
Movie: *** [19659063]
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